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Hauppauge, New York
H. Lee Dennison Suffolk County Executive Building with a monument to war dogs
H. Lee Dennison Suffolk County Executive Building with a monument to war dogs
Motto(s): 
"The Land of Sweet Waters"
U.S. Census map
U.S. Census map
Hauppauge, New York is located in Long Island
Hauppauge, New York
Hauppauge, New York
Location in Long Island
Hauppauge, New York is located in New York
Hauppauge, New York
Hauppauge, New York
Location in New York
Hauppauge, New York is located in the United States
Hauppauge, New York
Hauppauge, New York
Location in the United States
Country United States
State New York
County Suffolk
Area
 • Total 10.29 sq mi (26.66 km2)
 • Land 10.21 sq mi (26.43 km2)
 • Water 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation
62 ft (19 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 20,083
 • Density 1,967.76/sq mi (759.75/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
11749, 11760, 11788
Area code(s) 631, 934
FIPS code 36-32732
GNIS feature ID 0952381

Hauppauge (pronounced HOP-og) is a community located on Long Island in New York. It is known as a hamlet, which is a small settlement, and also a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area defined by the government for counting people. Hauppauge is part of two different towns: Islip and Smithtown, both in Suffolk County, New York.

In 2020, about 20,083 people lived in Hauppauge. Even though Riverhead is the main county seat, many important government offices for Suffolk County are actually found in Hauppauge.

Exploring Hauppauge's Location

Hauppauge is located in a special spot on Long Island. The name "Hauppauge" comes from a Native American word meaning "sweet waters." This is because local Native American tribes used to get their fresh drinking water from this area. The water here was much better than the water near Lake Ronkonkoma, which wasn't safe to drink. Hauppauge is still known for its underground water springs and a high level of water beneath the ground.

The area covers about 26.66 square kilometers (10.29 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Hauppauge's Past: A Look at History

The first house in the Hauppauge area was built a long time ago, around 1731. It was located where the Hauppauge Industrial Park is today. The community of Hauppauge really started to grow with the family of Thomas Wheeler before 1753. The area was even called "Wheelers" for a while, until the 1860s when the original name, Hauppauge, was brought back.

In 1806, a group of men formed the "Methodist Society of the 'Haupogues'." They elected their first leaders, and in 1812, the Hauppauge Methodist Church was built on land given by the Wheeler family. This church still stands today.

Hauppauge became an important stop along the King's Highway, a major road created in 1702. This old road helped connect different parts of the colony. In 1798, Hauppauge was officially split between the towns of Smithtown and Islip by a road now known as Townline Road.

Who Lives in Hauppauge?

Historical population
Census Pop.
2010 20,882
2020 20,083 −3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, there were 20,083 people living in Hauppauge. There were about 6,830 households, which are groups of people living together in one home.

Most people in Hauppauge are White (81.5%). There are also people of Asian (8.0%), African American (1.3%), and other backgrounds. About 11.5% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Hauppauge was 51.3 years old in 2020. Most adults (about 94.7%) have a high school diploma or higher. The average income for a household was about $120,442 per year.

Hauppauge Industrial Park: A Hub of Business

The Hauppauge Industrial Park is a very important part of the community. It's the largest industrial park on Long Island and one of the biggest in the entire country! In 2017, it had over 1,000 companies and provided jobs for more than 55,000 people. These companies pay taxes that help fund the Hauppauge school district.

Before it became an industrial park, this area was home to a large radio communication facility. From 1936 to 1986, it was used to send and receive radio messages, especially to Europe, South America, and ships at sea. The street name "Wireless Blvd" in the park reminds us of this history.

The Hauppauge Industrial Park is unique because it's protected by an all-volunteer fire department, the Hauppauge Fire Department.

Businesses and Jobs in Hauppauge

Hauppauge Palace Diner
Hauppauge Palace Diner, a local restaurant

Hauppauge is home to the headquarters of several companies. Royal Apparel, which makes American-made clothing, has been here since 1992. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, a large architecture and engineering firm, opened an office here in 2000. They chose Hauppauge to make it easier for professionals to work without a long commute to New York City.

Other companies based in Hauppauge include Voxx International, an electronics company, and Dime Community Bank.

Famous People from Hauppauge

Many interesting people have connections to Hauppauge:

  • Bud Harrelson – A former baseball player for the New York Mets and owner of the Long Island Ducks.
  • Val James – An NHL hockey player.
  • Tom Kirdahy – A theatre producer.
  • Lori Loughlin – An actress.
  • Candice Night – A singer and songwriter.
  • Eddie Yost – A former baseball player and coach for the Mets.

Learning in Hauppauge: Schools and Education

The Hauppauge Union Free School District runs the public schools in the area. These include:

  • Hauppauge High School
  • Hauppauge Middle School
  • Bretton Woods Elementary School
  • Forest Brook Elementary School
  • The Pines Elementary School

Adelphi University also has a center in Hauppauge, offering college-level courses.

Hauppauge in the News

The local news website Hauppauge Patch provides daily updates on news, sports, and community events in the area. Hauppauge is also a control center for several media companies, like Thomson Reuters and Paramount Media Networks.

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